What is an AR-15?

What is an ar-15? The “AR” in AR-15 stands for “ArmaLite Rifle”, not “assault rifle” or “automatic rifle”.

It is a semi-automatic, gas-operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed rifle that was initially developed by the ArmaLite company in the United States in the 1950s. Read more on Wikipedia.

History of the AR-15

The AR-15 has a significant history. It was originally designed by ArmaLite in the late 1950s as a lightweight, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed rifle.

The goal was to create a lightweight, small-caliber rifle that would allow infantrymen to carry more ammunition. This design was based on the earlier AR-10 rifle.

In 1959, ArmaLite sold the rights to it to Colt due to financial difficulties. Colt then redesigned the rifle and marketed it to various military services around the world.

The U.S. military eventually adopted the select-fire version of the AR-15, designating it as the M16 rifle in 1963.

Meanwhile, Colt continued to use the AR-15 trademark for its line of semi-automatic-only rifles marketed to civilian and law-enforcement customers.

The Armalite version is the parent design of the various Colt and M16 rifle variants.

Is the AR-15 Considered an Assault Rifle?

The term “assault rifle” only applies to automatic firearms, not the semi-automatic firearms like the AR-15 that are the focus of gun control debates.

According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the “AR” in “AR-15” stands for “ArmaLite Rifle”, not “assault rifle” or “automatic rifle”.

The NRA also states that an assault rifle is a fully automatic weapon, while the AR is a semi-automatic rifle.

So the AR-15 is not officially classified as an assault rifle. The distinction between semi-automatic and fully automatic firearms is legally and technically important.

None the less,, It has become associated with mass shootings and is seen by some gun control advocates as an assault weapon, even though it is not legally defined as such.

The AR-15 is not considered an assault rifle by official sources like the NSSF and NRA, as the term “assault rifle” only applies to fully automatic weapons.

However, it has gained a reputation as a weapon of choice for mass shooters, leading some to view it as an “assault weapon” despite the legal classification. read more here NRA.

Is It More Dangerous Than Other Rifles?

The AR-15 rifle has gained significant attention due to concerns about its potential for misuse. But, the evidence on whether it is more dangerous than other rifles in the wrong hands is nuanced.

While the AR has features that make it highly customizable and adaptable, it is not inherently more powerful than many other semi-automatic hunting rifles.

The .223 caliber ammunition it typically fires has a high muzzle velocity and energy but is not significantly more powerful than rounds used in common hunting rifles.

That said, its modular design and widespread availability have made it a weapon of choice for some mass shooters.

Trend analyses indicate that high-capacity semi-automatic weapons, including the AR-15, have grown as a share of crime guns since the expiration of the assault weapons ban.

It is important to note that other semi-automatic rifles not classified as “assault weapons” can be equally dangerous when misused.

The focus on the AR may sometimes overshadow the fact that the underlying issue is not the specific rifle model, but the broader societal challenges around access to firearms, mental health, and violence prevention.

​In summary, while the AR-15 has features that have made it a popular choice for some perpetrators of mass violence, the evidence does not conclusively show that it is inherently more dangerous than other semi-automatic rifles when in the wrong hands.

The issue is complex and requires a nuanced approach that addresses the broader societal factors contributing to gun violence.

To learn more on the term Tactical check out this article.